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October 2017

The Higher Education of Woman in the Southland

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N o . 2.V o l . II

A V th f O ld S ou th //- r ///<• AVtt? >>»///, A/// ///*• S ou th la n d a s i t is a n d o u g h t to he

23TT r . c . r s s z c s :

E P I T K I ) l i V S. ( i . A T K I N S , M ks. A . .!. C O O I ' K K .

C. X. G R A N D IS O N , B im n e s .s M anao kk.

A P R I L , 1891.

I. Editorial. II. Voice of the Press.

III. Intellectual and Moral Status of the Negro Ministry. REV. C. N. GRANDISON.

IV. Moral Influence of Industrial Education. REV. J. E. RANKIN, D. D., LL. D.

V. The Rallying Cry. (Poem.) MRS. FRANCES E. W. HARPER.

VI. Gammon Theological Seminary—Its Mission and Work. REV. M. C. B. MASON.

VII. The Best Method of Advancing the Negro. MISS CORA JACKSON.

VIII. Criticisms and Reviews. “ Pactolus Prime,” Judge Tourgee;. A. J. C. “ History of the Negro Race,” (Prof. E. A. Johnson)) p tt w “ Negro Stars in A ll Ages,” <W. H. Quick, Esq). )

IX. Woman’s Department.—The Higher Education of Woman. MRS. A. J. COOPER. Editor.

ADDRESS ALL COMUNICATIOKS TO

THE SOUTHLAND, W I N S T O N . N. C .

4 0 C e n t s a C o p y . $ 1. 8 0 a Y e a r .

Wo m a n ’s De p a r t m e n t .

M r s . A . J. C o o p e r , E d i t o r .

T H E H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N O E W O M E N .

BY TH E EDITOR.

In t h e v e r y first y e a r o f o u r c e n t u r y , th e y e a r 1801, th e r e a p p e a r e d in P a r is a b o o k b y S i I v a i n M a r e c h a l , e n t i t l e d “ S h a l l W o m a n le a rn t h e A l p h a b e t . ” T h e b o o k p r o p o s e s a l a w p r o ­ h i b i t i n g th e a l p h a b e t to w o m e n , a n d q u o t e s a u t h o r it i e s w e i g h ­ t y a n d va ri ous , t o p r o v e t h a t t h e w o m e n w h o k n o w s t h e a l ­ p h a b e t h a s a l r e a d y lo st p a rt o f h e r w o m a n l i n e s s . T h e a u t h o r d e c l a r e s t h a t w o m e n can use t h e a l p h a b e t o n l y as M o l i e r e p r e d i c t e d t h e y w o u l d in s p e l l i n g o u t th e v e r b a v i o ; t h a t t h e y h a v e no o c c a s i o n t o p eru se O v i d s A r s A m o r i s , s i n c e t h a t is a l r e a d y t h e g r o u n d a n d lim it o f t h e i r i n t u i t i v e fu r n i s h in g ; t h a t M a d a m e G u i o n w o u l d h a v e b e e n far m o r e a d o r a b l e h a d s h e r e m a i n e d a beautiful i g n o r a m u s as n a t u r e m a d e h e r ; t h a t R u t h , N a o m i , t h e S p a r t a n w o m e n , t h e A m a z o n s , P e n e l o p e . A n d r o m a c h e , L u c r e t i a , J oan o f A r c , P e t r a r c h ' s L a u r a , th e d a u g h t e r s o f C h a r l e m a g n e , c o u l d n o t s p e ll t h e i r n a m e s ; w h i l e S a p p h o , A s p a s i a , M a d a m e d e M a i n t e n o n . a n d M a d a m e d e S t a e l c o u l d r e a d a l t o g e t h e r t o o w e l l for t h e i r g o o d : f i n a l l y t h a t if w o m e n w e r e o n c e p e rm i t te d t o r e a d S o p h o c l e s a n d w o r k w ith l o g a r i t h m s , o r t o n i b b l e a t a n y si d e o f t h e a p p l e o f k n o w l e d g e t h e r e w o u l d be a n e n d f o r e v e r t o t h e i r s e w i n g on b u t t o n s an d e m b r o i d e r i n g sl ipp e rs .

P l e a s e r e m e m b e r th is b o o k w a s p u b l i s h e d a t t h e b e g in n in g o f t h e N i n e t e e n t h C e n t u r y . A t t h e e n d o f its first th ir d, (in t h e y e a r 1833) o n e s o l i t a r y c o l l e g e in A m e r i c a d e c i d e d to a d ­ m i t w o m e n w ith in its s a c r e d p r e c i n c t s , a n d o r g a n i z e d w h a t

w a s c a l l e d a “ L a d i e s ’ C o u r s e ” a s w e l l a s t h e r e g u l a r B. A . or G e n t l e m e n ' s co u r s e .

It w a s f e l t t o b e a n e x p e r i m e n t — a r a t h e r d a n g e r o u s e x p e r ­ i m e n t — a n d w a s a d o p t e d w ith f e a r a n d t r e m b l i n g b y th e g o o d fa t h e rs , w h o l o o k e d a s i f t h e y h a d b e e n c a u g h t s e c r e t l y m i x ­ i n g e x p l o s i v e c o m p o u n d s a n d w e r e g u i l t i l y e x p e c t i n g e v e r y m o m e n t to s e e t h e f o u n d a tio n s un d e r t h e m s h a k e n a n d re n t a n d thei r fair s u p e r s t r u c t u r e s h a t t e r e d in to f r a g m e n t s .

B u t th e g i r l s c a m e an d t h e r e w a s no u p h e a v a l . T h e y p e r ­ f o r m e d t h e i r t a s k s m o d e s t l y a n d i n t e l l i g e n t l y . O n c e in a w h i l e o n e o r t w o w e r e found c h o o s i n g t h e g e n t l e m e n ’s co u r s e . S t i l l no c o l l a p s e , a n d th e d e a r , ca refu l, sc ru p u lo u s , f r i g h t e n e d o l d p ro fe s s o rs w e r e ju s t g e t t i n g t h e i r h e a r t s o u t o f their t h r o a t s a n d p r e p a r i n g t o d r a w o n e g o o d free b r e a t h , w h e n t h e y found t h e y w o u l d h a v e t o c h a n g e th e n a m e s o f th o s e c o u r s e s ; for t h e r e w e r e a s m a n y l a d i e s in th e g e n t l e m e n ’s c o u r s e a s in t h e l ad ie s', a n d a d i s t i n c t l y L a d i e s ’ C o u r s e , i n f e ­ rio r in s c o p e a n d a i m t o t h e r e g u l a r c l a s s i c a l c o u r s e , d i d no t a n d c o u l d no t e x i s t .

O t h e r c o l l e g e s g r a d u a l l y fell in lin e a n d t o - d a y t h e r e are o n e h u n d r e d a n d t h i r t y - f i v e in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a l o n e offer­ i n g t h e d e g r e e o f B. A . t o w o m e n , a n d s e n d i n g o u t y e a r l y in to t h e a r t e r i e s o f th is nation a w a r m , rich flood o f s t r o n g , b r a v e , a c t i v e , e n e r g e t i c , w e l l - e q u i p p e d , t h o u g h t f u l w o m e n — w o m e n q u i c k to s e e an d e a g e r to h e l p t h e n e e d s o f th is n e e d y w o r l d — w o m e n w h o c a n t h i n k as w e l l as feel, a n d w h o feel n o n e the l e s s b e c a u s e t h e y t h i n k — w o m e n w h o a r e n o n e t h e l e s s t e n ­ d e r a n d t r u e for t h e p a r c h m e n t s c r o l l t h e y b e a r in t h e i r h a n d s — w o m e n w h o h a v e g i v e n a d e e p e r , r i c h e r , n o b l e r a n d g r a n d e r m e a n i n g t o t h e w o r d “ w o m a n l y ” th an a n y o n e - s i d e d m a s c u ­ lin e def inition c o u l d e v e r h a v e s u g g e s t e d o r i n s p i r e d — w o m e n w h o m t h e w o r l d h a s l o n g w aite d for in pain an d a n g u i s h till t h e c o m p l e m e n t o f t h a t m a s c u l i n e influ en ce w h i c h h a s for a l m o s t fo urt een c e n t u r i e s d o m i n a t e d it. s h o u l d b e a t l a s t a d d e d t o its f o r c e s a n d a l l o w e d t o p e r m e a t e its t h o u g h t .

S i n c e t h e i d e a o f o r d e r a n d su b o r d i n a t i o n s u c c u m b e d to b a r b a r i a n b r a w n a n d b r u t a l i t y in t h e fifth c e n t u r y , t h e c i v i l -

H I G H E R ED UCA TIO N* OK W O M E N . 18 7

H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N O F W O M E N .188

i z c d w o r l d h a s b e e n l i k e a c h i l d b r o u g h t u p b y his father. I t h a s n e e d e d th e g r e a t m o t h e r h e a i t t o t e a c h it t o b e pitiful, to l o v e m e r c y , t o s u c c o r t h e w e a k a n d t o c a r e for t h e l o w l y .

W h e n c e c a m e this a p o t h e o s i s o f g r e e d an d c r u e l t y ? W h e n c e th is s n e a k i n g a d m i r a t i o n w e a l l h a v e for b u l l i e s a n d p r i z e ­ fig h ters ? W h e n c e t h e s e l f - c o n g r a t u l a t i o n o f “ d o m i n a n t ” races , a s i f “ dominant*’ m e a n t “ r i g h t e o u s " a n d c a r r i e d w ith it a title t o i n h e r i t t h e e a rt h ? W h e n c e th e s c o r n o f s o - c a l l e d w e a k or u n w a r l i k e r a c e s an d i n d i v i d u a l s , a n d t h e v e r y c o m f o r t a b l e a s s u r a n c e th at it is t h e i r m a n i f e s t d e s t i n y t o b e w i p e d o u t as v e r m in b e fo r e th is a d v a n c i n g c i v i li z a t i o n ? A s i f t h e p o s s e s ­ sio n o f t h e C h r i s t i a n g r a c e s o f m e e k n e s s , n o n - r e s i s t a n c e an d f o r g i v e n e s s , w e r e i n c o m p a t i b l e w ith a c i v i l i z a t i o n p r o f e s s e d l y b a s e d on C h r i s t i a n i t y !

T h e w c r l d o f t h o u g h t u n d e r t h e p r o d o m i n a n t m a n - i n f lu ­ e n c e , u n m o ll if ie d a n d u n r e s t r a i n e d b y its c o m p l e m e n t a r y f o r c e , w o u l d b e c o m e lik e D a n i e l ’s fourth b e a s t : “ d re ad fu l a n d t e r r i b l e , a n d s t r o n g e x c e e d i n g l y ; " “ it had g r e a t iron t e e t h ; it d e v o u r e d a n d b r a k e in p i e c e s , a n d s t a m p e d t h e r e s i d u e with t h e feet o f it. a n d t h e m o s t i n d e p e n d e n t o f us find o u r s e l v e s r e a d y a t ti m e s to fall d o w n a n d w o r s h i p th is i n c a rn a ti o n o f p o w e r .

Mrs. M a r y A . L i v e r m o r e , a w o m a n w h o m I c a n m e n tio n o n l y to a d m i r e a n d r e v e r e n c e , c a m e n e a r s h a k i n g m y faith a fe w w e e k s a g o in m y t h e o r y o f t h e t h i n k i n g - w o m a n ’s mission to put in t h e t e n d e r a n d s y m p a t h e t i c c h o r d in n a t u r e ’s g r a n d s y m p h o n y .

S h e w a s d w e l l i n g on t h e A n g l o - S a x o n g e n i u s for p o w e r a n d his c o n t e m p t for w e a k n e s s , a n d d e s c r i b e d a s c e n e in S an F r a n c i s c o w h i c h s h e had w itn e sse d .

T h e i n c o r r i g i b l e a n i m a l k n o w n as t h e A m e r i c a n S m a l l - b o y , had p o u n c e d up on a s i m p l e , u n o ffe n d i n g C h i n a m a n , w h o w a s t a k i n g h o m e his w o r k , a n d had e m p t i e d th e b e a u t i f u l l y l aun- d ri ed c o n t e n t s o f his b a s k e t in to t h e d itc h . “ A n d , " s a i d s h e , “ w h e n t h a t g r e a t m a n stood t h e r e a n d b l u b b e r e d before t h a t c r o w d o f l a w l e s s u rch in s, t o a n y o n e o f w h o m he m i g h t h a v e t a u g h t a l a s t i n g l e s s o n w ith his t w o fists, / d id n 't m u ck c a r e !"

T h i s is said lik e a m a n ! It g r a t e s h a r s h l y . It s m a c k s of th e w o r s h i p o f t h e be as t. It is c o n t e m p t for w e a k n e s s , an d t a k e n o u t o f its s e t t i n g it s e e m s to c o n t r a d i c t m y t h e o r y . It e i t h e r s h o w s t h a t o n e o f t h e h i g h e s t e x p o n e n t s o f th e H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n c a n be a t ti m e s unt rue t o th e in s t in c ts I h a v e a s c r i b e d t o th e t h i n k i n g w o m a n a n d t o th e c o n t r i b u t i o n she is t o ad d to t h e c i v i l i z e d w o r l d , o r e l s e th e in flu e n c e she w i e l d s upon o u r c i v i l i z a t i o n m a y be p o t e n t w i t h o u t b e i n g n e c e s s a r i l y a n d a l w a y s d i r e c t an d c o n s c i o u s . T h e l a t t e r is t h e ca se . H e r v o i c e m a y s t r i k e a f a l s e no te , bu t he r w h o l e b e i n g is m u sica l w ith th e v i b r a t i o n s o f h u m a n suffe ring. H e r t o n g u e m a y p a r r o t o v e r th e c o l d c o n c e i t s t h a t s o m e m an h a s t a u g h t her, bu t h e r h e a r t is a g l o w with s y m p a t h y an d l o v i n g k in d n e s s , a n d she c a n n o t be true to he r real s e l f w i t h o u t g i v i n g o u t t h e s e e l e m e n t s into t h e fo rc e s o f th e w o r ld .

A s in t h e c a s e o f in d iv i d u a ls, w e a r e c o n s t a n t l y a n d i n e v ­ i t a b l y , w h e t h e r w e a r e c o n s c i o u s o f it or not, g i v i n g o u t our real s e l v e s in to o u r s e v e r a l lit tle w o r l d s , i n e x o r a b l y a d d i n g o u r o w n true r a y to t h e flood o f s t a r l i g h t , q u i t e i n d e p e n d e n t l y o f o u r p r o fe s s io n s a n d o u r m a s q u e r a d i n g ; s o in th e w o r l d o f t h o u g h t , t h e influ en ce o f t h i n k i n g w o m a n far t r a n s c e n d s her f e e b l e d e c l a m a t i o n a n d m a y s e e m a t t i m e s e v e n o p p o s e d t o it.

A v i s i t o r in O b e r l i n o n c e said t o th e l a d y p r i n c i p a l, " H a v e y o u n o r a b b l e in O b e r l i n ? H o w is it? I s e c no p o l i c e h e re an d y e t t h e s t r e e t s a r e a s q u ie t a n d o r d e r l y a s i f t h e r e w e r e an officer o f t h e l a w s t a n d i n g o n e v e r y c o r n e r ."

M rs . J o h n s t o n r e p l i e d , " O h y e s ; th e r e a r c v i c i o u s p e r s o n s in O b e r l i n j u s t a s in o t h e r t o w n s — b u t o u r g i r l s a r e o u r p o lic e ."

W i t h from five t o te n h u n d r e d p u r e - m i n e d y o u n g w o m e n t h r e a d i n g t h e s t r e e t s o f t h e v i l l a g e e v e r y e v e n i n g u n a t t e n d e d , v i c e m u s t s l i n k a w a y , l i k e frost b e fo r e t h e risin g sun: a n d y e t I v e n t u r e t o s a y t h e r e w a s no t o n e in a h u n d re d o f t h o s e g i r l s w h o w o u l d n o t h a v e run from a s t r e e t b r a w l as s h e w o u l d from a m o u s e , a n d w h o would# no t h a v e d e c l a r e d s h e c o u l d n e v e r s t a n d t h e s i g h t o f b l o o d a n d pistols.

T h e r e is t h e n , a r e a l a n d s p e c i a l influ en ce o f w o m a n . A n influ en ce s u b t l e a n d o fte n i n v o l u n t a r y , a n influ en ce s o in-

H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N O F W O M E N . 18 9

H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N O F W O M E N190

f i n i t e l y i n t e r w o v e n in. s o i n t r i c a t e l y i n t e r p e n e t r a t e d b y th e m a s c u l i n e influ en ce o f th e ti m e t h a t it is o fte n d iffic u lt t o e x ­ t r i c a t e t h e d e l i c a t e m e s h e s a n d a n a l y z e a n d i d e n t i f y t h e c l o s e l y c l i n g i n g fibers. A n d y e t w i t h o u t th is in flu e n c e — s o l o n g as w o m a n s a t w ith b a n d a g e d e y e s a n d m a n a c l e d h a n d s , fast bound in t h e c l a m p s o f i g n o r a n c e a n d in a c t i o n , t h e w o r l d o f t h o u g h t m o v e d in its o rb it l i k e t h e r e v o l u t i o n s o f t h e m o o n ; w i t h one fac e, t h e m a n ’s fa c e a l w a y s o ut. s o t h a t t h e s p e c t a t o r c o u l d not d i s ti n g u i s h w h e t h e r it w a s d i s c o r sphe re.

N o w I c l a i m t h a t it is t h e p r e v a l e n c e o f th e H i g h e r E d u c a ­ tion a m o n g w o m e n , t h e m a k i n g it a c o m m o n e v e r y d a y affair for w o m e n to r e a s o n a n d t h i n k a n d e x p r e s s their t h o u g h t , th e t r a i n i n g a n d s t i m u l u s w h i c h e n a b l e a n d e n c o u r a g e w o m e n to a d m i n i s t e r to t h e w o r l d t h e b r e a d it n e e d s a s w e l l a s th e s u g a r it cri e s for; in s h o r t it is th e t r a n s m i t t i n g t h e p o t e n t i a l fo rc e s o f he r soul in to d y n a m i c fa c to rs th at h a s g i v e n s y m m e t r y and c o m p l e t e n e s s to th e w o r l d ’s a g e n c i e s . S o o n l y c o u l d it be c o n s u m m a t e d t h a t M e r c y ( t h e l e s s s o n s h e t e a c h e s ) a n d T r u t h ( t h e t a s k m a n h a s s e t h i m s e l f ) s h o u l d m e e t t o g e t h e r : t h a t r i g h t e o u s n e s s , o r 'r ig h t n e s s ( m a n ’s i d e a l ) a n d p e a c e (its n e c e s ­ s a r y ‘ o t h e r h a l f ' ) s h o u l d k i s s e a c h o th e r.

W e m u s t t h a n k t h e g e n e r a l e n l i g h t e n m e n t a n d i n d e p e n ­ d e n c e o f w o m a n ( w h i c h w e m a y n o w r e g a r d as a f a i t a c co m p li) t h a t b o th t h e s e fo rc e s a r e n o w a t w o r k in t h e w o r l d a n d it is fair t o d e m a n d from t h e m fo r t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y a h i g h e r t y p e o f c i v i l i z a t i o n t h a n a n y a t t a i n e d in th e n i n e t e e n t h . R e ­ l ig i o n . s c i e n c e , art . e c o n o m i c s , h a v e a l l n e e d e d t h e fe m in ine fla v o r; a n d l iter atu re , t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f w h a t is p e r m a n e n t a n d b e s t in a l l o f t h e s e , m a y be g u a r d e d a t a n y ti m e t o m e a s ­ ure t h e s t r e n g t h o f t h e fe m in ine i n g r e d i e n t . Y o u w i l l no t find t h e o l o g y c o n s i g n i n g in fan ts t o l a k e s o f u n q u e n c h a b l e fire l o n g a ft e r w o m e n h a v e had a c h a n c e t o g r a s p , m a s t e r , a n d w i e l d its d o g m a s . Y o u w ill no t find s c i e n c e a n n i h i l a t i n g p e r s o n a l i t y fro m t h e g o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i v e r s e a n d m a k i n g o f G o d an u n g o v e r n a b l e , u n i n t e l l i g i b l e , b l i n d , d e s t r u c t i v e p h y s i c a l fo rc e; y o u w i l l n o t find j u r i s p r u d e n c e f o r m u l a t i n g a s a n a x i o m th e a b s u r d i t y t h a t m a n a n d w ife a r c o n e , a n d t h a t o n e t h e m a n —

t h a t a m a r r i e d w o m a n m a y no t h o l d or b e q u e a t h he r p r o p e r t y s a v e a s s u b j e c t t o h e r h u s b a n d ’s d i r e c t i o n ; y o u w i l l no t find p olitica l e c o n o m i s t s d e c l a r i n g t h a t t h e o n l y p o s si b le a d j u s t ­ m e n t b e t w e e n l a b o r e r s an d c a p i t a l i s t s is th at o f s e lfi s h n e ss and r a p a c i t y — th at e a c h must g e t a l l he c a n an d k e e p all t h a t he g e t s , w h i l e t h e w o r l d c r i e s la is s e s f a i r e a n d th e l a w y e r s e x ­ p la in . “ it is t h e be au tif ul w o r k i n g o f t h e l a w o f s u p p l y a n d d e ­ m a n d ; " in fine y o u w ill n o t find th e la w o f l o v e s h u t o u t from th e affairs o f m e n a ft e r th e fe m in i n e h a l f o f th e w o r l d ’s tr u th is c o m p l e t e d .

N a y , put y o u r e a r n o w c l o s e t o t h e p u l s e o f t h e tim e . W h a t is th e k e y - n o t e o f t h e l it e r a tu r e o f t h e s e d a y s ? W h a t is th e b a n n e r c r y o f a l l t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e l a s t h a l f d e c a d e ? W h a t is th e d o m i n a n t s e v e n t h w h i c h is t o ad d r i c h n e s s a n d t o n e to th e final c a d e n c e s o f th is c e n t u r y an d lea d b y a g r a n d m o d u ­ la ti o n into th e t r i u m p h a n t h a r m o n i c s o f t h e n e x t ? Is it not c o m p a s s i o n for t h e poor a n d u n f o r t u n a t e , a n d . as B e l l a m y has e x p r e s s e d it. “ i n d i g n a n t o u t c r y a g a i n s t th e failure o f t h e so cial m a c h i n e r y a s it is. t o a m e l i o r a t e t h e m i s e r i e s o f m e n ! "

W h e n w e n t th e r e b y a n a g e . w h e n s o m u c h t i m e an d t h o u g h t , s o m u c h m o n e y a n d l a b o r w e r e g i v e n t o G o d ’s p o o r a n d G o d ’ s i n v a l i d s , t h e l o w l y a n d u n l o v e l y , t h e s i n n i n g a s w e l l a s t h e su ffe ring— h o m e s for i n e b r i a t e s a n d h o m e s for l u n a t i c s , s h e l t e r for t h e a g e d a n d s h e l t e r for b a b e s , h o s p i t a l s fo r t h e s i c k , p r o p s a n d b r a c e s for th e f a l l i n g , r e f o r m a t o r y p ri s ­ o n s a n d prison re fo r m a to r ie s , all s h o w t h a t a “ m o t h e r i n g ” in flu e n c e from s o m e s o u r c e is l e a v e n i n g t h e nation.

N o w p l e a s e u n d e r s t a n d m e . 1 d o no t a s k y o u t o a d m i t th at t h e s e b e n e f a c t i o n s a n d v i r tu e s a r e t h e e x c l u s i v e p o s s e s s i o n o f w o m e n , o r e v e n t h a t w o m e n a r e t h e i r c h i e f a n d o n l y a d v o c a t e s . It m a y be a m an w h o fo r m u la t e s a n d m a k e s t h e m v o c a l . I t m a y be, a n d o f t e n is, a m a n w h o w e e p s o v e r t h e w r o n g s an d s t r u g g l e s for t h e a m e l i o r a t i o n : bu t t h a t m a n h a s i m b i b e d t h o s e i m p u l s e s from a m o t h e r r a t h e r t h a n fro m a father a n d is s i m p l y m a t e r i a l i z i n g a n d g i v i n g b a c k t o t h e w o r l d in t a n g i b l e form t h e i d eal l o v e a n d t e n d e r n e s s , d e v o t i o n a n d c a r e t h a t h a v e c h e r ­ i s h e d a n d nurtured t h e h e l p l e s s p e rio d o f his o w n e x i s t e n c e .

H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N OK W O M E N . 191

A l l I c l a i m is t h a t t h e r e is a fe m in i n e as w e l l a s a m a s c u l i n e s i d e t o t r u t h ; t h a t t h e s e a r e r e l a t e d not a s inferior a n d s u p e ­ rior, n o t a s b e t t e r a n d w o r s e , n o t a s w e a k e r a n d s t r o n g e r , but a s c o m p l e m e n t s — c o m p l e m e n t s in o n e n e c e s s a r y an d s y m m e t ­ ric w h o l e : T h a t a s th e m an is m o r e n o b l e in r e a s o n , s o th e w o m a n is m o r e q u i c k in s y m p a t h y . T h a t as h e is i n d e f a t i g a ­ b l e in purs uit o f a b s t r a c t truth, s o is s h e in c a r i n g for t h e i n ­ te re st s b y t h e w a y — s t r i v i n g t e n d e r l y a n d l o v i n g l y t h a t not o n e o f th e l e a s t o f t h e s e ‘ lit tle o n e s ’ s h o u l d p e r is h . T h a t w h i l e w e n o t u n f r e q u e n t l y s e e w o m e n w h o r e a s o n , w e s a y , w ith th e C o o l n e s s a n d p re cision o f a m a n , a n d m e n a s c o n s i d e r a t e o f h e l p l e s s n e s s a s a w o m a n , st i ll t h e r e is a g e n e r a l c o n s e n s u s o f m a n k i n d t h a t t h e o n e tr ait is e s s e n t i a l l y m a s c u l i n e a n d th e o t h e r a s p e c u l i a r l y fem inin e. T h a t b o th a r e n e e d e d t o be w o r k e d into t h e t r a i n i n g o f c h i l d r e n , in o r d e r t h a t o u r b o y s m a y s u p p l e m e n t t h e i r v i r i l i t y b y t e n d e r n e s s an d s e n s i b i l i t y , a n d our g i r l s m a y round o u t t h e i r g e n t l e s s b y s t r e n g t h a n d s e l f - r e l i ­ a n c e . T h a t a s b o th a r e a l i k e n e c e s s a r y in g i v i n g s y m m e t r y t o th e in d iv i d u a l , s o a nation or a r a c e w ill d e g e n e r a t e into m e r e e m o t i o n a l i s m on th e o n e h a n d , o r b u l l y i s m o n t h e o t h e r i f d o m i n a t e d b y e it h e r e x c l u s i v e l y ; l a s t l y a n d m o s t e m p h a t i ­ c a l l y . t h a t t h e fe m in ine f a c t o r can h a v e its p r o p e r effe ct o n l y t h r o u g h w o m a n ' s d e v e l o p m e n t a n d e d u c a t i o n s o chat s h e m a y f i t l y s t a m p her fo rc e on th e fo rc e s o f he r d a y a n d a d d h e r m o d ­ icu m to th e r i c h e s o f th e w o r l d ’s t h o u g h t .

“ For womanV cause is mail’s : thev rise or sink Together, dwarfed or godlike, bond or free: For >he that out of I êthe scales with man. The shining steps of nature, shares with man His nights, his days, moves with him to one goal. If she he small, slight natored, miserable. How shall men grow? * * * Ix*t her make herself her own To give or keep, to live and learn and be All that not harms distinctive womanhood. For woman is not undeveloped man But di verse: could we make her as the man Sweet love were slain ; his dearest bond is this. Not like to like, hut like in difference.

1 9 2 H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N O F W O M E N .

H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N O F W O M E N . 193

Y e t in the long years liker must they grow; The man lie more of woman, she of man ; He pain in sweetness and in moral height, Nor lose the wrestling thews that throw the world ; She mental breadth, nor fail in childward care. Nor lose childlike in the larger mind ; Till at the last she set herself to man, Like perfect music unto noble words.”

N o w y o u will a r g u e , p e r h a p s , a n d r i g h t l y , t h a t h i g h e r e d u ­ c a t i o n for w o m e n is no t a m o d e r n i d e a , an d t h a t , if t h a t is the m e a n s o f s e t t i n g free a n d i n v i g o r a t i n g t h e l o n g d e s i r e d femi­ nine f o r c e in t h e w o r l d , it h a s a l r e a d y had a tr ia l a n d s h o u l d , in th e past, h a v e p r o d u c e d s o m e o f t h e s e g l o w i n g effects. S a p p h o , th e b r i g h t , s w e e t s i n g e r o f L e s b o s , “ t h e v i o l e t - c r o w n e d , pure, s w e e t l y , s m i l i n g S a p p h o ” a s A l c a e u s c a l l s her, c h a n t e d h e r l y r i c s an d p o u r e d forth h e r soul n e a r l y s i x c e n ­ tu rie s b e fo r e C h r i s t , in n o t e s as full a n d fr ee, as p a s s i o n a t e an d e l o q u e n t a s d i d e v e r A r c h i l o c h u s o r A n a c r e o n .

A s p a s i a , t h a t e a r l i e s t q u e e n o f th e d r a w i n g - r o o m , a c e n t u r y l a t e r m i n is t e r e d t o t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l e n t e r t a i n m e n t o f S o c r a t e s a n d th e l e a d i n g wits a n d p h i l o s o p h e r s o f he r t i m e . I n d e e d to h e r is a t t r i b u t e d , b y t h e b e s t c r i t i c s , t h e a u t h o r s h i p o f o n e o f t h e m o s t n o t e d s p e e c h e s e v e r d e l i v e r e d b y P e ricle s .

L a t e r on. d u r i n g t h e R e n a i s s a n c e p e r io d , w o m e n w e r e p r o ­ fe sso rs in m a t h e m a t i c s , p h y s i c s , m e t a p h y s i c s , a n d th e c l a s s ic l a n g u a g e s in B o l o g n a , P a v i a , P a d u a , a n d Bre sc ia . O l y m p i a F u l v i a M o r a t a , o f T e r r a r a , a m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g c h a r a c t e r , w h o s e m a g n i f i c e n t l i b r a r y w a s d e s t r o y e d in 1553 in t h e in vasio n o f S c h w e i n f u r t b y A l b e r t o f B r a d e n b u r g , h a d a c q u i r e d a m o s t e x t e n s i v e e d u c a t i o n . I t is said t h a t th is w o n d e r f u l g i r l g a v e l e c t u r e s o n c l a s s i c a l s u b j e c t s in he r s i x t e e n t h y e a r a n d had e v e n b e fo r e t h a t w r i t t e n s e v e r a l v e r y r e m a r k a b l e G r e e k a n d L a t i n p o e m s , a n d w h a t is a l s o t o t h e point, s h e m arrie d a p r o ­ f e sso r a t H e i d e l b u r g a n d b e c a m e a he lp -M E E T FOR HIM.

I t is t r u e t h e n t h a t t h e h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n for w o m e n — in fact t h e h i g h e s t t h a t t h e w o r l d h a s e v e r w i t n e s s e d — b e l o n g s t o th e p a s t ; bu t w e m u s t r e m e m b e r t h a t it w a s p o s s i b l e , d o w n t o th e m i d d l e o f o u r o w n c e n t u r y , o n l y to a s e l e c t f e w ; a n d t h a t th e

H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N OK W O M E N .I94

f a s h i o n s an d t r a d i t i o n s o f t h e ti m e s w e r e all a g a i n s t it. T h e r e w e r e no t o n l y no sti m u l i t o e n c o u r a g e w o m e n t o m a k e th e m o s t o f t h e i r p o w e r s a n d t o w e l c o m e t h e i r d e v e l o p m e n t a s a h e lp fu l a g e n c y in t h e p r o g r e s s o f c i v i l i z a t i o n , b u t their little a s p i r a t i o n s , w h e n t h e y had a n y , w e r e c h i l l e d a n d s n u b b e d in e m b r y o an d a n y a t t e m p t a t t h o u g h t w a s r e c e i v e d as a m o n ­ s t r o u s u su r p a ti o n o f m a n ’s p r e r o g a t i v e .

L e s s i n g d e c l a r e d t h a t “ t h e w o m a n w h o t h i n k s is lik e th e m a n w h o puts on r o u g e — r i d i c u l o u s , " an d V o l t a i r e in his c o a r s e , flippant w a y u s e d to s a y , " I d e a s a r e l i k e b e a r d s — w o ­ m e n a n d b o y s h a v e n o n e . ” D r . M a g i n n r e m a r k e d , " V V e lik e to h e a r a fe w w o r d s o f s e n s e from a w o m a n s o m e t i m e s , as w e d o from a p a r r o t — t h e y a r e s o u n e x p e c t e d ! " an d e v e n th e pious F e n e l o n t a u g h t t h a t v i r g i n d e l i c a c y is a l m o s t as i n c o m ­ p a t i b l e w ith l e a r n i n g as w ith vice.

T h a t t h e a v e r a g e w o m a n re ti re d b e fo r e t h e s e shafts o f wit a n d ri d ic u le a n d e v e n g l o r i e d in he r i g n o r a n c e is n o t s u r p r i s i n g . T h e A b b e C h o i s i , it is s a i d , p ra ised t h e D u c h e s s e d c F o n t a n - g e s a s b e i n g p r e t t y as an a n g e l a n d s i l l y a s a g o o s e , a n d all t h e y o u n g l a d i e s o f th e c o u r t s t r o v e t o m a k e u p in f o l l y w h a t t h e y l a c k e d in c h a r m s . T h e i d eal o f t h e d a y w a s t h a t " w o ­ m e n m u s t be p r e t t y , d r e s s p r e t t i l y , flirt p r e t t i l y , a n d no t be t o o w e l l i n f o r m e d ; " t h a t it w a s th e su m m u m donum o f h e r e a r t h l y h o p e s t o h a v e , a s T h a c k c r y p u t s it. " a l l th e f e l l o w s b a t t l i n g t o d a n c e w ith h e r ; " t h a t s h e had no G o d - g i v e n d e s t i n y , n o soul with u n q u e n c h a b l e l o n g i n g s a n d i n e x h a u s t i b l e p o s sib ili tie s— no w o r k o f he r o w n t o d o a n d g i v e t o t h e w o r l d — n o a b s o l u t e a n d i n h e r e n t v a l u e , no d u t y t o self, t r a n s c e n d i n g a l l p l e a s u r e s t h a t m a y b e d e m a n d e d o f a m e r e t o y : b u t t h a t h e r v a l u e w a s p u r e l y a r e l a t i v e o n e a n d t o b e e s t i m a t e d a s a r e t h e fine a r t s — b y t h e p l e a s u r e t h e y g i v e . " W o m a n , w i n e a n d s o n g ‘ a s ’ th e w o r l d ’s b e s t g i f t s t o m a n ," w e r e l i n k e d t o g e t h e r in p raise with as lit tle t h o u g h t o f th e first s a y i n g , " W h a t d o e s t t h o u , ” a s th at t h e s e c o n d a n d th ir d s h o u l d d e c l a r e , " W e m u s t be a b o u t our F a t h e r ' s busine ss."

M e n b e l i e v e , o r p r e t e n d e d t o b e l i e v e , t h a t t h e g r e a t l a w o f s e l f d e v e l o p m e n t w a s o b l i g a t o r y o n t h e i r h a l f o f t h e h u m a n

H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N O F W O M E N . *95

f a m i l y o n l y ; t h a t w h i l e it w a s t h e c h i e f e n d o f m an t o g l o r i f y G o d an d put his five t a l e n t s t o th e e x c h a n g e r s , g a i n i n g t h e r e ­ b y o t h e r five, it w a s , o r o u g h t t o be, t h e s o l e e n d o f w o m a n to g l o r i f y m an a n d w r a p he r o n e d e c e n t l y a w a y in a fiap kin, r e ­ t i r i n g in to “ H e z e k i a h S m i t h ’s l a d y d u r i n g h e r n a t u r a l life an d H c z e k i a h S m i t h ’s r e l i c t on h e r t o m b s t o n e ; ” t h a t h i g h e r e d u ­ c a t i o n w a s i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h th e s h a p e o f t h e f e m a l e c e r e ­ brum, a n d t h a t e v e n i f it c o u l d b e a c q u i r e d it m u s t i n e v i t a b l y u n s e x w o m a n d e s t r o y i n g th e l i s p i n g , c l i n g i n g , t e n d e r l y h e l p ­ less, an d b e a u t i f u l l y d e p e n d e n t c r e a t u r e s w h o m m e n w o u l d s o h e r o i c a l l y t h i n k for a n d s o g a l l a n t l y f i g h t for, a n d g i v i n g in t h e i r s t e a d a f o r m i d a b l e r a c e o f bl ue s t o c k i n g s w i t h c o r k s c r e w r i n g l e t s an d o t h e r s p i n s t e r p r o p e n s i ti e s .

B u t t h e s e a r e 18th c e n t u r y ideas. W e h a v e s e e n h o w t h e p e n d u l u m h a s s w u n g a c r o s s our

p r e s e n t c e n t u r y . T h e m e n o f o u r ti m e h a v e a s k e d w i t h H m er - s o n , " t h a t w o m a n o n l y s h o w us h o w s h e can b e s t b e s e r v e d . " a n d w o m a n h a s r e p l i e d : th e c h a n c e o f t h e s e e d l i n g a n d o f th e a n i m a l c u l e is a l l I a s k — th e c h a n c e for g r o w t h a n d self- d e v e l o p m e n t , t h e p e r m i s s i o n to be true to th e a s p i r a t i o n s o f m y soul w i t h o u t i n c u r r i n g t h e b l i g h t o f y o u r c e n s u r e a n d ridi­ cule.

“ Audetque viris concurrerc virgo.”

I n s o u l - c u l t u r e w o m a n a t l a s t d a r e s t o c o n t e n d w i t h m e n , a n d w e m a y c i t e G r a n t A l l e n ( w h o c e r t a i n l y c a n n o t b e s u s ­ p e c t e d o f a d v o c a t i n g t h e u n s e x i n g o f w o m a n ) a s an e x a m ­ p le o f t h e b r o a d e n i n g effe ct o f this c o n t e s t on t h e i d e a s a t least o f t h e m e n o f th e d a y . H e s a y s in his P l a i n W o r d s o n th e W o m a n Q u e s t i o n , r e c e n t l y p u b l i s h e d :

“ T h e p o s it io n o f w o m a n w a s n o t [in t h e past] a position w h i c h c o u l d b e a r t h e t e s t o f n i n e t e e n t h - c e n t u r y s c r u t i n y . T h e i r e d u c a t i o n w a s i n a d e q u a t e , t h e i r s o c i a l s t a t u s w a s h u ­ m i l i a t i n g , t h e i r p o l i t i c i a l p o w e r w a s nil, t h e i r p r a c t i c a l an d p ers onal g r i e v a n c e s w e r e i n n u m e r a b l e ; a b o v e a ll. t h e i r r e la ti o n s t o th e f a m i l y — to t h e i r h u s b a n d s , thei r c h i l d r e n , t h e i r friends, t h e i r p r o p e r t y — w a s s i m p l y i n s u p p o r t a b l e . "

5

H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N OK W O M E N .196

A n d a g a i n : “ A s a b o d y vvc ‘ A d v a n c e d m e n ’ a r c I t h i n k p r e ­ p a r e d t o r e c o n s i d e r , a n d t o r e c o n s i d e r f u n d a m e n t a l l y , w i t h ­ o u t p r e j u d i c e o r p r e c o n c e p t i o n , t h e e n t i r e qu est io n o f th e r e ­ l a tio n s b e t w e e n t h e s e x e s . W e a r c r e a d y to m a k e a n y m o d ­ ifica tions in t h o s e r e l a t i o n s w h i c h w ill s a t i s f y t h e w o m a n ' s j u s t a s p i r a t i o n for p e r s o n a l i n d e p e n d e n c e , for i n t e l l e c t u a l and m o r a l d e v e l o p m e n t , for p h y s i c a l c u l tu r e , for p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t y , a n d for a v o i c e in t h e a r r a n g e m e n t o f he r o w n affairs, b o th d o m e s t i c a n d n a t io n a l."

N o w th is is m a g n a n i m o u s e n o u g h , s u r e l y ; an d q u ite a st e p from 18th c e n t u r y p r e a c h i n g , is it not? T h e h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n o f W o m a n h a s c e r t a i n l y d e v e l o p e d t h e m e n ; — l e t us s e c w h a t it h a s d o n e for t h e w o m a n .

M a t t h e w A r n o l d d u r i n g his l a s t visit to A m e r i c a in 82 or 83, l e c t u r e d b e f o r e a c e r t a i n c o - e d u c a t i o n a l c o l l e g e in th e W e s t . A f t e r t h e l e c t u r e he r e m a r k e d t o a l a d y p r o fe s s o r t h a t the y o u n g w o m e n in his a u d i e n c e h e n o t i c e d , “ p a i d as c l o s e a t ­ t e n t i o n as th e m en, a l l th e w a y t h r o u g h " T h i s led , o f co u r s e , to a s p i r i te d d i s c u s s io n o f th e h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n for w o m e n , d u r i n g w h i c h h e said to his e n t h u s i a s t i c i n t e r l o c u t o r , e y e i n g h e r p h i l o s o p h i c a l l y t h r o u g h his E n g l i s h , e y e g l a s s : “ B u t — eh — d o n t y o u t h i n k it— e h — sp o il s t h e i r c h a w nee s , y o u k n o w ! "

N o w as t o t h e re su lt t o w o m a n , t h i s i s t h e m o s t se r i o u s a r ­ g u m e n t e v e r u r g e d a g a i n s t th e h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n . I f it i n t e r ­ feres w i t h m a r r i a g e , c l a s s i c a l t r a i n i n g h a s a g r a v e o b j e c t i o n t o w e i g h a n d a n s w e r .

F o r I a g r e e w ith M r. A l l e n a t l e a s t on th is o n e p o i n t , t h a t t h e r e m u s t b e m a r r y i n g an d g i v i n g in m a r r i a g e e v e n ti l l th e e n d o f time.

I g r a n t y o u t h a t i n t e l l e c t u a l d e v e l o p m e n t , w ith th e self- r e l i a n c e a n d c a p a c i t y fo r e a r n i n g a l i v e l i h o o d w h i c h it g i v e s , r e n d e r s w o m a n l e s s d e p e n d e n t on t h e m a r r i a g e r e l a t i o n for p h y s i c a l s u p p o r t ( w h i c h , b y t h e w a y , d o e s n o t a l w a y s a c ­ c o m p a n y it). N e i t h e r is s h e c o m p e l l e d t o l o o k t o s e x u a l l o v e as t h e o n e s e n s a t i o n c a p a b l e o f g i v i n g t o n e a n d re li sh , m o v e ­ m e n t a n d v i m t o t h e life s h e l e a d s . H e r ho ri so n is e x t e n d e d . H e r s y m p a t h i e s a r c b r o a d e n e d a n d d e e p e n e d a n d m ul ti p li e d.

S h e is in c l o s e r to u c h w i t h nature. N o t a b u d t h a t o p e n s , no t a d e w d r o p , no t a r a y o f l i g h t , no t a c l o u d - b u r s t o r a t h u n d e r ­ b o l t bu t a d d s t o th e e x p a n s i v e n e s s a n d z e a l o f he r so ul. A n d i f t h e sun o f an a b s o r b i n g passion be g o n e d o w n , still 'tis n i g h t t h a t b r i n g s t h e st ars. S h e h a s r e m a i n i n g t h e m e l l o w , l e s s o b ­ trusive, bu t n o n e th e l e s s e n c h a n t i n g a n d i n s p i r i n g l i g h t o f fri end sh ip , an d in to its c h a r m e d c i r c l e s h e m a y g a t h e r th e b e s t t h e w o r l d h a s k n o w n . S h e c a n c o m m u n e w ith S o c r a t e s a b o u t t h e d a im o n he k n e w a n d to w h i c h s h e t o o c a n b e a r w i t n e s s ; s h e c a n r e v e l in th e m a j e s t y o f D a n t e , th e s w e e t n e s s o f V i r g i l , th e s i m p l i c i t y o f H o m e r , th e s t r e n g t h o f M i l t o n . S h e c a n l i s ­ te n to t h e p u l s i n g h e a r t t h r o b s o f p a s s i o n a t e S a p p h o ’s e n c a g e d so ul, a s s h e b e a t s h e r br uised w i n g s a g a i n s t he r prison bars a n d s t r u g g l e s t o flutter o u t into H e a v e n ’s asther, a n d t h e fires o f he r o w n soul c r y b a c k a s she l is te n s: “ Y e s ; S a p p h o , 1 k n o w it a l l ; I k n o w it a l l . ’ ’ H e r e is c o m m u n i o n w i t h o u t s u s ­ p i c i o n ; f r i e n d s h i p w i t h o u t m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g ; l o v e w i t h o u t j e a l o u s y .

W e m u s t a d m i t t h e n t h a t B y r o n ’s p i c tu r e , w h e t h e r a t h i n g o f b e a u t y o r not, h a s fa d ed from th e c a n v a s o f t o - d a y .

“ Man’s love,1’ he wrote, “ in of man's life a thing a|»art, ’Tis woman’s whole existence. Man may range the court, camp, church, the vessel and the mart. Sword, gown, gain, glory offer in exchange. Pride, fame, ambition to fill up his heart— And few there are whom these cannot estrange. Men have all these resources, we but one— T o lo ir aga in, a n d be again undone."

H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N O F W O M E N . 197

T h i s m a y h a v e b e e n t r u e w h e n w ri tt e n . I t i s n o t t r u e to ­ d a y . T h e o l d , s u b j e c t i v e , s t a g n a n t , i n d o l e n t a n d w r e t c h e d life for w o m a n h a s g o n e . S h e h a s a s m a n y r e s o u r c e s a s m e n , as m a n y a c t i v i t i e s b e c k o n he r on. A s l a r g e p o s s i b i li t i e s s w e l l a n d insp ire h e r he ar t.

N o w , t h e n , d o e s it d e s t r o y o r d i m i n i s h h e r c a p a c i t y for l o v ­ i n g ? ’ ' €

H e r s t a n d a r d s h a v e u n d o u b t e d l y g o n e up. T h e n e c e s s i t y o f s p e c u l a t i n g in ‘ c h a w n c e s ’ h a s p r o b a b l y shifted. T h e q u e s -

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tion is no t n o w w ith th e w o m a n “ H o w s h a l l I s o c r a m p , stunt, s i m p l i f y a n d n u l li fy m y s e l f a s to m a k e m e e l i g i b l e t o th e ho no r o f b e i n g ' s h a l l o w e d up* into s o m e l i t t l e m an ?” bu t th e p r o b le m , I t r o w , n o w re sts w ith t h e m an as t o h o w he c a n d e v e l o p e his G o d - g i v e n p o w e r s as t o r e a c h this i d eal o f a g e n e r a t i o n o f w o m e n w h o d e m a n d t h e n o b le s t , g r a n d e s t an d b e s t a c h i e v e ­ m e n t s o f w h i c h h e is c a p a b l e , a n d th is s u r e l y is th e o n l y fair a n d na tu ral a d j u s t m e n t o f t h e c h a n c e s . N a t u r e n e v e r m e a n t t h a t th e i d e a l s a n d s t a n d a r d s o f t h e w o r l d s h o u l d b e d w a r f i n g a n d m i n i m i z i n g o n e s , a n d t h e m e n s h o u l d t h a n k us for r e q u i r ­ i n g o f t h e m th e r i c h e s t fruits w h i c h t h e y c a n g r o w . I f it m a k e s t h e m w o r k , all t h e b e t t e r for th e m .

A s t o t h e a d a p t a b i l i t y o f t h e e d u c a t e d w o m a n t o th e m a r ­ r i a g e r e l a t i o n , I s h a l l s i m p l y q u o te fro m t h a t e x c e l l e n t s y m ­ pos ium o f l c a r n r d w o m e n th at a p p e a r e d r e c e n t l y un d e r Mrs. A r m s t r o n g ’s s i g n a t u r e in a n s w e r t o t h e “ P l a i n W o r d s " o f Mr. A l l e n , a l r e a d y r e fe r r e d to. “ A d m i t t i n g no l o n g e r a n y q u e s ­ tion as t o t h e i r i n t e l l e c t u a l e q u a l i t y with t h e m e n w h o m t h e y m eet , w ith th e s i m p l i c i t y o f c o n s c i o u s s t r e n g t h , t h e y t a k e t h e i r p l a c e b e s i d e th e m e n w h o c h a l l e n g e t h e m an d f e a r l e s s l y fa c e t h e re su lt o f t h e i r a c t i o n s . T h e y d e n y t h a t t h e i r e d u c a t io n in a n y w a y unfits t h e m for t h e d u t y o f w i fe h o o d a n d m a t e r n i t y o r p r i m a r i l y r e n d e r s t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s a n y l e s s a t t r a c t i v e to t h e m t h a n to t h e d o m e s t i c t y p e o f w o m a n . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e y h o l d t h a t t h e i r k n o w l e d g e o f p h y s i o l o g y m a k e s th em b e t t e r m o t h e r s a n d h o u s e k e e p e r s ; t h e i r k n o w l e d g e o f c h e m i s t r y m a k e s t h e m b e t t e r c o o k s ; w h i l e from t h e i r tr a i n in g in o t h e r n a t u r a l s c i e n c e s a n d in m a t h e m a t i c s , t h e y o b t a i n a n . a c c u r a c y a n d f a i r - m i n d e d n e s s w h i c h is o f g r e a t v a l u e t o th em in d e a l i n g w i t h t h e i r c h i l d r e n o r t h e i r e m p l o y e e s . "

S o m u c h for t h e i r w i l l i n g n e s s . N o w th e a p p l e m a y be g o o d for fo od a n d p l e a s a n t t o th e e y e s , a n d a fruit t o be d e s i r e d to m a k e o n e w ise . N a y , it m a y e v e n a s s u r e y o u t h a t it h a s no a v e r s i o n w h a t e v e r to b e i n g bitter. S t i l l , if y o u d o no t like t h e fl a v o r a l l t h e s e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s a r c n o t h i n g . Is th e i n t e l l e c t u a l w o m a n d e s ir a b le in th e m a t r im o n i a l m a r k e t ?

T h i s I c a n n o t a n s w e r . I m u s t c o n f e s s m y i g n o r a n c e . I am

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no j u d g e o f s u c h t h in g s . I h a v e b e e n t o l d t h a t s t r o n g - m i n d e d w o m e n c o u l d b e , w h e n t h e y t h o u g h t it w o r t h their w h i l e , q u ite e n d u r a b l e , a n d j u d g i n g from th e n u m b e r o f fe m ale n a m e s I find in c o l l e g e c a t a l o g u e s w ith d o u b l e p a t r o n y m i c s , I surm ise t h a t q u ite a n u m b e r o f m e n a r c w i l l i n g t o p u t up with them.

N o w I w o u l d th at m y t a s k e n d e d he re . H a v i n g s h o w n th at a g r e a t w a n t o f th e w o r ld in t h e p a s t has b e e n a feminine forc e; t h a t t h a t fo rc e c a n h a v e its full effe ct o n l y t h r o u g h th e u n t r a m m e l l e d d e v e l o p m e n t o f w o m a n ; t h a t s u c h d e v e l o p m e n t , w h ile it g i v e s he r to t h e w o r l d a n d t o c i v i l i z a t i o n , d o e s no t n e c e s s a r i l y r e m o v e he r fro m t h e h o m e a n d fireside; finally, t h a t w h i l e p a s t c e n t u r i e s h a v e w i t n e s s e d s p o r a d i c i n s t a n c e s o f this h i g h e r g r o w t h , still it w a s r e s e r v e d for th e l a t t e r h a l f o f th e n in e t e e n t h c e n t u r y t o r e n d e r it c o m m o n a n d g e n e r a l e n o u g h to be effe ctive . I m i g h t c l o s e with a g l o w i n g p r e d i c ­ tion o f w h a t th e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y m a y e x p e c t from this h e r i t a g e o f tw in fo rc e s— t h e m a s c u l i n e b a t t e r e d an d t o i l - w o r n as a g r i m v e t e r a n a ft e r c e n t u r i e s o f w a r f a r e , bu t st i ll s t r o n g a c t i v e an d v i g o r o u s , r e a d y t o h e l p w i t h his h a r d - w o n e x p e r i ­ e n c e t h e y o u n g re c r u i t r e j o i c i n g in h e r n e w l y found freedom, w h o s o c o n f i d e n t l y p l a c e s he r h a n d in his w i t h m u tu a l p l e d g e s t o r e d e e m th e a g e s .

"And so the twain upon the skirts of Time, Sit side by side, full-suniined in all their powers. Dispensing harvest, sowing the To-be, Self-reverent each and reverencing each.”

W i t h a v i e w o f e n l i g h t e n m e n t on t h e p o i n t , a s t h e a c h i e v e ­ m e n t o f th e c e n t u r y for t h e h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n o f th e c o l o r e d w o ­ m e n . I w r o t e a fe w d a y s a g o to th e C o l l e g e s w h i c h a d m i t w o m e n a n d a s k e d h o w m a n y C o l o r e d w o m e n had c o m p l e t e d t h e B . A . c o u r s e in e a c h d u r i n g its e n t i r e h ist o ry . T h e s e a r e t h e f i g u r e s r e ­ tu rn e d : F i s k l e a d s t h e w a y w ith t w e l v e ; O b c r l i n n e x t w i t h five; A n n A r b o r . W e l l e s l e y a n d W i l b e r f o r c e th r e e e a c h , L i v i n g ­ s t o n e t w o , A t l a n t a o n e , H o w a r d , a s y e t , none.

1 th e n a s k e d t h e p r i n c i p a l o f t h e W a s h i n g t o n H i g h S c h o o l h o w m a n y o u t o f t h e l a r g e n u m b e r o f f e m a l e g r a d u a t e s from

his s c h o o l h a d c h o s e n to g o f o r w a r d a n d t a k e a c o l l e g i a t e c o u r s e . H e r e p l i e d t h a t b u t o n e had e v e r d o n e s o , a n d she is n o w in C o r n e l l . *

O t h e r s a s k q u e s t io n s t o o , s o m e t i m e s , a n d I w a s a s k e d a fe w y e a r s a g o b y a w h i t e fr ie nd, “ H o w is it t h a t t h e m e n o f y o u r r a c e s e e m t o o u t s t r i p t h e w o m e n in m e n t a l a t t a i n m e n t ? ” “ O h . " I sa id , “ s o far a s it is tr u e, t h e m e n , I s u p p o s e , fro m th e life t h e y l e a d , g a i n m o r e b y c o n t a c t , a n d s o far as it is o n l y a p p a ­ r e n t , I t h i n k t h e w o m e n a r c m o r e quie t. T h e y d o n 't feel c a l l e d t o m o u n t a b a r r e l a n d h a r a n g u e b y t h e h o u r e v e r y ti m e t h e y i m a g i n e t h e y h a v e p r o d u c e d an id ea."

B u t I a m su re t h e r e is a n o t h e r r e a s o n w h i c h I d i d n o t at t h a t ti m e s e e fit t o g i v e . T h e a t m o s p h e r e , t h e s t a n d a r d s , th e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f o u r lit tle w o r l d d o n o t afford a n y s p e c i a l s t i m u l u s t o f e m a l e d e v e l o p m e n t .

It s e e m s h a r d l y a g r a c i o u s t h i n g t o s a y , b u t it s t r i k e s m e a s true, t h a t w h i l e o u r m e n s e e m t h o r o u g h l y a b r e a s t o f t h e ti m e s on a l m o s t e v e r y o t h e r su b je c t, w h e n t h e y s t r i k e t h e w o m a n q u e s t io n t h e y d r o p b a c k in to s i x t e e n t h c e n t u r y l o g i c . T h e y l e a v e n o t h i n g to b e d e s i r e d g e n e r a l l y in r e g a r d t o g a l l a n t r y a n d c h i v a l r y , b u t t h e y a c t u a l l y d o no t s e e m s o m e t i m e s t o h a v e o u t g r o w n t h a t o l d c o n t e m p o r a r y o f c h i v a l r y — th e i d e a th at w o m e n m a y s t a n d on p e d e s t a l s or l i v e in d o l l - h o u s e s , ( i f t h e y h a p p e n to h a v e t h e m ) bu t t h e y m u s t no t fu rro w t h e i r b r o w s w i t h t h o u g h t or a t t e m p t t o h e l p m e n t u g a t t h e g r e a t q u e s ­ t i o n s o f t h e w o r l d . I fear t h e m a j o r i t y o f c o l o r e d m e n d o no t y e t t h i n k it w o r t h w h i l e t h a t w o m e n a s p i r e to h i g h e r e d u c a ­ tion. N o t m a n y w i l l s u b s c r i b e to t h e “ a d v a n c e d ” i d e a s o f G r a n t A l l e n a l r e a d y q u o te d . T h e t h r e e R ’s, a lit tle music a n d a g o o d d ea l o f d a n c i n g , a first r a t e d r e s s - m a k e r a n d a b o t t l e o f m a g n o l i a b a l m , a r e q u ite e n o u g h g e n e r a l l y t o r e n d e r c h a r m i n g a n y w o m a n p o s s e s s e d o f t a c t an d th e c a p a c i t y o f w o r s h i p p i n g m a s c u l i n i t y .

M y r e a d e r s w i l l p a r d o n m y i l l u s t r a t i n g m y p o i n t a n d a l s o g i v ­ i n g a r e a s o n for th e fe ar t h a t is in m e , b y a l i t t l e bit o f p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e . W h e n a c h i l d I w a s put in to a s c h o o l n e a r h o m e

2 0 0 H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N O F W O M E N .

•G raduated from Scientific course, J u n e , 1890, the first colored woman to graduate from Cornell.

H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N O F W O M E N . 201

t h a t p r o fe s s e d to b e n o r m a l a n d c o l l e g i a t e , i. e. t o p r e p a r e t e a c h e r s for c o l o r e d y o u t h , furnish c a n d i d a t e s for th e m in istr y, a n d offer c o l l e g i a t e t r a i n i n g for t h o s e w h o s h o u l d be r e a d y for it. W e l l , I found a ft e r a w h i l e t h a t I h a d a g o o d d e a l o f time on m y h a n d s . 1 had d e v o u r e d w h a t w a s put b e fo r e m e , and, l i k e O l i v e r T w i s t , w a s l o o k i n g a r o u n d to a s k for m ore . I c o n ­ s t a n t l y felt ( a s I s u p p o s e m a n y a n a m b i t io u s g i r l h a s fe lt ) a t h u m p i n g from within u n a n s w e r e d b y a n y b e c k o n i n g from w i t h o u t . C l a s s a ft e r c l a s s w a s o r g a n i z e d for t h e s e m inisteri al c a n d i d a t e s ( m a n y o f t h e m m e n w h o had been p r e a c h i n g before I w a s b o rn ). I n t o e v e r y o n e o f t h e s e c l a s s e s I w a s e x p e c t e d t o g o , w ith th e s o l e i n te n t , I t h o u g h t a t t h e tim e , o f e n a b l i n g th e d e a r o ld pri nci p al, as lie l o o k e d from th e v a c a n t c o u n t e n ­ a n c e s o f his s l e e p y o ld c l a s s o v e r to w h e r e I sat, to g e t o f f his s o l i t a r y p u n — his n e v e r - f a i l i n g p l e a s a n t r y , e s p e c i a l l y in h o t w e a t h e r —w h i c h w a s , as he c a l l e d o u t “ A n y o n e ! ” to t h e effect t h a t " a n y o n e ” th e n m e a n t “ A n n i e o n e . ”

F i n a l l y a G r e e k c l a s s w a s to be fo rm e d . M y i n s p i r i n g p r e ­ c e p t o r i n f o r m e d me t h a t G r e e k had n e v e r b e e n t a u g h t in t h e s c h o o l , b u t t h a t h e w a s g o i n g t o form a c l a s s f o r t h e c a n d id a te s

f o r th e m in is t r y , a n d i f I l i k e d I m i g h t j o i n it. I r e p l i e d — h u m b l y I h o p e , as b e c a m e t h e f e m a l e o f t h e h u m a n s p e c i e s — t h a t I w o u l d lik e v e r y m u c h t o s t u d y G r e e k , a n d t h a t I w a s t h a n k f u l for th e o p p o r t u n i t y , a n d s o it w e n t on. A b o y , h o w ­ e v e r m e a g e r his e q u i p m e n t a n d s h a l l o w his p r e t e n s i o n s , had o n l y t o d e c l a r e a fl o a t i n g i n te n t io n t o s t u d y t h e o l o g y a n d he c o u l d g e t a l l th e s u p p o r t , e n c o u r a g e m e n t a n d s t i m u l u s he n e e d e d , b e a b s o l v e d from w o r k a n d i n v e s t e d b e f o r e h a n d w ith a l l t h e d i g n i t y o f his far a w a y office. W h i l e a s e l f - s u p p o r t i n g g i r l h a d to t r u g g l e on b y t e a c h i n g in t h e s u m m e r a n d w o r k ­ i n g a ft e r s c h o o l h o u r s to k e e p up w ith h e r b o a r d bills, a n d a c t u a l l y t o f i g h t he r w a y a g a i n s t p o s it i v e d i s c o u r a g e m e n t s to t h e h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n , till o n e s u c h g i r l o n e d a y flared o u t an d t o l d t h e p r i n c i p a l “ t h e o n l y m i s s i o n o p e n i n g b e f o r e a g i r l in his s c h o o l w a s to m a r r y o n e o f t h o s e c a n d i d a t e s . ” H e said he d i d n ’t k n o w b u t it w a s . A n d w h e n a t l a s t t h a t s a m e girl a n n o u n c e d he r d e s ir e a n d i n te n t io n t o g o t o c o l l e g e it w a s

2 0 2 H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N O F W O M E N .

r e c e i v e d w i t h a b o u t t h e s a m e i n c r e d u l i t y a n d d i s m a y a s i f a b r a s s b u t t o n on o n e o f t h o s e c a n d i d a t e ’s c o a t s had p ro p o u n d e d a n e w m e t h o d for s q u a r i n g t h e c i r c l e o r t r i s e c t i n g t h e arc.

N o w th is is n o t f a n c y . I t is a s i m p l e u n v a r n i s h e d p h o t o ­ g r a p h , an d w h a t I b e l i e v e w a s n o t in t h o s e d a y s e x c e p t i o n a l in c o l o r e d s c h o o l s , a n d I a s k t h e m e n a n d w o m e n w h o are t e a c h e r s a n d c o - w o r k e r s for th e h i g h e s t i n t e r e s t s o f t h e race, t h a t t h e y g i v e th e g i r l s a c h a n c e ! W e m i g h t as w e l l e x p e c t to g r o w tree s from l e a v e s as h o p e t o build u p a c i v i li z a t i o n or a m a n h o o d w i t h o u t t a k i n g in to c o n s i d e r a t i o n o u r w o m e n and t h e h o m e life m a d e b y t h e m , w h i c h m u s t b e t h e ro o t an d g r o u n d o f th e w h o l e m a t te r. L e t us insist th e n on s p e c i a l e n c o u r a g e m e n t for t h e e d u c a t i o n o f our w o m e n a n d s p e c i a l c a r e in t h e i r t r a i n in g . L e t o u r g i r l s feel t h a t w e e x p e c t s o m e ­ t h i n g m o r e o f t h e m th an t h a t t h e y m e r e l y l oo k p r e t t y and a p p e a r w e l l in s o c i e t y . T e a c h t h e m t h a t t h e r e is a r a c e w ith s p e c i a l n e e d s w h i c h t h e y a n d o n l y t h e y c a n h e l p ; t h a t the w o r l d n e e d s a n d is a l r e a d y a s k i n g for t h e i r t r a i n e d , effi cient forces. F i n a l l y , if t h e r e is an a m b i t i o u s g i r l w i t h p l u c k an d brain t o t a k e a h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n , e n c o u r a g e h e r t o m a k e th e m o s t o f it. L e t t h e r e b e t h e s a m e flourish o f t r u m p e t s an d c l a p p i n g o f h a n d s as w h e n a b o y a n n o u n c e s his d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o e n t e r t h e lists, a n d th e n a s y o u k n o w t h a t s h e is p h y s i c a l l y t h e w e a k e r o f th e t w o , d o n ’t s t a n d fro m u n d e r a n d l e a v e he r t o buffe t t h e w a v e s a l o n e . L e t he r k n o w t h a t y o u r h e a r t is f o l l o w i n g her, t h a t y o u r h a n d , t h o u g h s h e s e e s it not, is r e a d y t o s u p p e r t her. T o be p la in , I m e an l e t m o n e y b e ra ise d an d s c h o l a r s h i p s b e f o u n d e d in o u r c o l l e g e s a n d u n i v e r s i t i e s for s e l f - s u p p o r t i n g , w o r t h y y o u n g w o m e n , t o offset a n d b a l a n c e t h e aid t h a t c a n a l w a y s be fo und for b o y s w h o w ill t a k e t h e o l o g y .

T h e e a r n e s t w e l l t r a i n e d C h r i s t i a n y o u n g w o m a n , a s a t e a c h e r , a s a h o m e - m a k e r , a s wife, m o t h e r , o r s i l e n t influ en ce e v e n , is a s p o t e n t a m i s s i o n a r y a g e n c y a m o n g o u r p e o p l e as is t h e t h e o l o g i a n ; a n d I c l a i m t h a t a t th e p r e s e n t s t a g e o f our d e v e l o p m e n t in t h e S o u t h s h e is e v e n m o r e i m p o r t a n t an d n e c e s s a r y .

L e t us th en , h e r e a n d n o w , r e c o g n i z e th is fo rc e a n d r e s o l v e t o m a k e th e m o s t o f it— no t t h e b o y s less, b u t t h e g i r l s more.